凭什么女孩就该远离危险

绘也圆

凭什么女孩就该远离危险

绘也圆

Fear Should Not Be EXpected of Girls

I was one of the first women in the San Francisco Fire Department. For more than a dozen years， I worked on a busy rig in a tough neighborhood.

I expected people to question whether I had the physical ability to do the job. What I didn't expect was the question I heard more than any other: "Aren't you scared？"

It was strange — and insulting— to have my courage doubted. I never heard my malecolleagues asked this. Apparently， fear is expected of women.

So I biked down a steep country road （and hit a car）. I sledded down an icy hill （and hit a tree）. I don't remember my parents freaking out；they seemed to understand that mishaps①mishap 英［mis·hap］ 美 ［'mɪshæp］ n.不幸之事， 厄运， 灾祸were part of childhood. I got a few stitches，and kept biking and sledding. Misadventures meant that I should try again. With each triumph over fear and physical adversity， I gained confidence.

When a girl learns that the chance of skinning her knee is an acceptable reason not to attempt the fire pole， she learns to avoid activities outside her comfort zone. Soon many situations are considered too scary， when in fact they are simply exhilarating②exhilarating 英 ［ɪɡ'zɪləreɪtɪŋ； eɡ-］ 美［ɪɡ'zɪləretɪŋ］ adj. 使人愉快的；令人喜欢的；爽快的v. 使高兴，使兴奋（exhilarate的现在分词形式）and unknown. Fear becomes a go-to feminine trait， something girls are expected to feel and express at will. By the time a girl reaches her tweens no one bats an eye when she screams at the sight of an insect.

We must chuck the insidious language of fear （Be careful！That's too scary！） and instead use the same terms we offer boys， of bravery and resilience. We need to embolden③embolden 英 ［ɪm'bəʊld（ə）n； em-］ 美 ［ɛm'boldən］ vt. 使有胆量，使大胆girls to master skills that at first appear difficult， even dangerous. And it's not cute when a 10-year-old girl screeches④screech 英 ［skriːtʃ］ 美 ［skritʃ］ vi. 发出尖锐的声音；发出恐惧或痛苦的叫喊声n. 尖叫声，尖利刺耳的声音；尖声喊叫vt. 尖着声音讲或喊， "I'm too scared."

When I worked as a firefighter，I was often scared. Of course I was. So were the men. But fear wasn't a reason to quit. I put my fear where it belonged， behind my feelings of focus， confidence and courage. Then I headed，with my crew， into the burning building.

我曾是旧金山消防局第一批女消防队员。十多年来，我带着整套装备，在环境恶劣的社区里工作。

我预料到人们会问，我是否有足够的体力做这份工作。我没料到的是，我比其他任何人都容易遇到这个问题：“你不害怕吗？”

质疑我的勇气不仅很奇怪，而且很羞辱人。我从来不曾听见我的男同事被问到这个问题。恐惧对于女性而言，显然是理所当然。

我曾骑着自行车冲下乡间路的陡坡（撞上了一辆车）；我也曾坐着雪橇滑下冰峰（撞上了一棵树）。我不记得我父母抓狂过，他们看上去很理解，小意外不断总是童年的一部分。我缝了几针后，依然会去骑自行车和滑雪橇。挫败意味着我应该再尝试一次。随着每一次克服恐惧，战胜挫折，我在胜利中获得了自信。

当一个女孩了解到“膝盖可能会破皮”是不去尝试滑杆的合理理由，她就会去学着躲避舒适区以外的事情。很快，有很多事情就会被认为过于可怕，尽管实际上那些事情只是让人兴奋、充满未知。恐惧成了女性的典型特征，人们预期女孩会感到恐惧，也会任意表达恐惧。快到青春期的时候，当一个女孩看到昆虫后惊呼，也不会有谁感到惊讶。

我们必须摒弃那种灌输恐惧的语言——小心点！太吓人了！——这在潜移默化间产生了负面的影响。应该讲与形容男孩子一样的，褒扬勇气和坚韧的话。我们需要鼓励女孩去掌握那些一开始看起来困难、甚至危险的技能。10岁的女孩尖厉地叫喊“我好害怕呀”，这并不是可爱。

我在担任消防员期间，时常感到害怕。我当然害怕，那些男人也怕。但恐惧并不是退缩的理由。我把恐惧感放在了该放的地方，放在了我专注、自信、勇敢的情绪背后。之后我与战友并肩走进了燃起熊熊烈火的建筑物。